I'm sure there are many frustrated coaches out there who have
seemingly talented goalies who fold when there is pressure of a
game. In practice, they display all the physical tools necessary to
dominate opposing teams, but once the crowd files into the rink and
the scoreboard gets turned on, the goalies stop puck's like Charlie
Brown pitches baseballs.

The old cliché is that goaltending is 90% mental. Mental toughness
really is that important, yet very few goalies are disciplined
enough to practice their mental skills. It takes work to become
mentally tough and it requires patience for the mental game to
develop to the point that the goalie doesn't have to think about it.

A mentally tough goaltender knows how to focus in on the important
issue at hand: stopping the puck. During the game, the crowd's
comments are a distant buzz, the school day is irrelevant and the
argument you had at breakfast with Mom and Dad is on the back
burner. You are only keying in on the movements of the players in
relation to the puck. Any other distraction can wait until the final
buzzer sounds.

This sounds simple enough, but obviously it takes practice to learn
how to keep your thoughts from straying. Every thought you have is a
conversation with yourself. If you are thinking too much you aren't
able to give the game 100% of your attention. Goalies tend to have
very negative, distorted thinking. If a puck goes in, many goalies
start ripping themselves. "I can't believe that shot went in!" "Man,
I'm stinking the joint out tonight!" "Please, don't let them score
another one!" All of these comments are examples of negative
thinking. So what if one goal goes in? Your team has plenty of time
to score so relax and try not to let them score any more.

You must learn to put a positive spin on everything and really mean
it! Once you convince yourself to be positive, you learn to expect
success. These are some examples of negative, distorted thinking and
the positive response you should be using:

NEGATIVE

POSITIVE

1. I can't believe that went in!

1. They got that one, but they won't do it again.

2. Why can't I stop that shot?

2. I've stopped that shot before and I'll do it again.

3. These fans are calling me a sieve!

3. I'm no sieve, they yell that at every goalie.

4. Oh my God, I've given up 6 goals!

4. I'm not going to let them get 7.

5. I'm so nervous that I'm gonna blow the first shot.

5. It's okay to be nervous, it means that I'm ready to
play.

6. I can't play well in a game.

6. I've played well before and I'll play well again.

7. Their top scorer owns me on breakaways!

7. I cant' wait to stone him. He thinks he can score on
me, but I'm going to dominate him.

8. The puck went in, the crowd is going nuts. I'm so
embarrassed!

8. Big deal, you scored one measly goal on me, you would
think you won the Stanley Cup.

Anytime you catch yourself in a negative thought, you must
immediately change it to a positive one. A positive attitude must be
hammered home at every opportunity or else your negative thoughts
will become self-fulfilling prophesies. Make mental images of
yourself succeeding. "See" your self stop a breakaway, make a
stellar glove save or break up a power play. It's okay to dream.

Make your dreams a reality by practicing like you would like to
execute in games. Don't cut corners. Don't get lazy. Make your
decisions and techniques as accurate as you hope to do in a game.
Mental toughness can be learned by disciplined practice and pre-game
routines. Failure to address the mental game will result in
prolonged slumps and erratic play. It is your job to be mentally
tough so take the time and make the effort to be your best!